Phase detection and tuner control system



Feb. 28, 1950 J. G. BEARD ETAL PHASE DETEcTIoN AND TUNER CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Feb. 9, 1945 VITU E); 4 TTRNEV Home Patented Feb. 28, 1950 PHASE DETECTION `A`ND TUNER CONTROL `SYSTEM Joseph G. Beard, fHa-ddoniield, N. J., and Robert F. Dressler, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to America, a corporation of Radio Corporation of Delaware Application 'February 9, 1945, Serial No. 57 7,043

In our U. S. application `Serial #577,042, led February 9, 1945, which has now ripened into Patent #2,469,324, dated May 3, 1949, we disclosed an improved method vof and means for automatically tuning one or more radio frequency stages such as, for example, wave generators, alternating current relays, ampliers, frequency multipliers, etc. In this application we describe and claim in detail thephase comparison and detector system and motor control and tuner system used in the said application. This vphase comparison detecting systemand motor-control and tuner system is obviously of general application and may be used in systems other than that-disclosed in the said application.

In attaining the objects of the said application currents appearing in two circuits or at two points in a circuit are compared as to relative phases, relative phase variations are detected and the detected currents when present used to control a motor to retune one of said circuits to reestablish a desired phase relation between the said currents.

A general object oi this invention is improvement in current phase comparison and current phase variation detection.

In attaining this object we make use of one or more electron discharge devices to which currents from the respective circuits are applied in a particular phase relation when the two circuits are correspondingly tuned. When one of thecircuits becomes mistuned its current phase and/or amplitude changes and the changes are detected. It is essential that the currents be applied to the detectors in proper phase relation, and an object of our invention is improved means for applying the currents from the respective circuits tothe phase detectors. In the embodiment illustrated, this means includes coaxial cables of like length coupling the circuits to the phase detectors.

Obviously, it .is essential that the phase relation of the currents supplied from the circuits to the lines be initially of a proper desired phase relation. Where a single frequency or .a narrow .frequency rangeis nvolved,.a simple phase shifting network may suflice. However, we contemplate use or a wide range of frequencies, and the circuit tuned is to be tunable over this wide range. Where the circuits-are to operate over a'wide frequency range known xed phase-shifting .net-

V5 Claims. (Cl. Z50-40) varied in .accordance with the detected currents -ance when the circuits are like tuned. One tube output predominates when the circuits are not like tuned. This output is used to control lthe direction of rotation of a motor, and an object of our invention is improved motor control by alternating currents. vIn 'attaining this object alternating current lfrom a power supply say 6G cycle alternating current is supplied cophasally to the phase Vdetectors to provide in the output o one thereof when tuning is lnot-proper alternatlng current power which is applied to thyratron tubes which have related to their anode circuits alternating current supply connections through the windings of a two lwinding motor, .the arrangementbeing such as to run the motor in the proper-direction when the circuits are not properly tuned. The motor drives a variable rea'ctance to retune one of the circuits and also adjusts a reactance in the phase shifting network so that Yirrespective of changes in the frequency of the wave energy the current from the tunable circuit fed to the line is properlyrelated in phase to the current fed from the other circuit to the other lines.

In describing ourinvention in detail, reference will be made to the .attached drawings wherein Fig. l illustrates partly by block diagram but mainly by circuit connections, a phase comparison and detecting circuit arrange in accordance with our invention, and associated with a source of oscillations and Vwith Ya tunable circuit with a motor for tuning the same, and a motor control circuit connecting the phasedetector to the motor.

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate by vector diagram the manner in which the currents -frorn the source and -the circuit to be tuned are compared as to phase in a detector and operate therein to produce an output for controlling the motor.

The phase detector and motor control and tuner here is in general as disclosed in our said U. S. Patent #2,469,324. Here, however, in the sake of simplicity, two tuned circuits only are shown, one of which may be said to be the source of current and .the other of which is tunable. Moreover, the showing here ydoes not include the automatic means for tuning the circuits to their lowest frequency Iunder certain conditions, nor

to a higher selected frequency under other conditions as in the said application. In the drawings we have, however, used symbols corresponding to those used in said other application in so far as possible.

In Fig. l, I6 represents a tuned circuit wherein oscillatory energy appears. The oscillatory energy maybe such as would be produced by a crystal controlled oscillator in I, or some other source the frequency of which may be varied or changed, or may 'Vary in an undesired manner. The oscillatory energy may be modulated or unmodulated. The oscillatory energy is fed by a coupling condenser CC to the contro] grid of an electron discharge tube T2. This coupling may include a parasitic damping resistance and inductance 22. The tube T2 may be an amplifier and may have its output coupled by a coupling condenser CC to a tunable circuit 30 and coupled thereby to following stages as desired. The circuit 30 is, as Stated above, tunable, and a feature of this invention includes automatic means for tuning the circuit 36' to the frequency of the current or oscillatory energy supplied or appearing in circuit I6 in the presence of changes in the frequency thereof. It is assumed that the circuit I6 is tuned to the frequency of the oscillatory energy produced or appearing therein.

The inductance of the circuit I8 is coupled to the inductance of circuit I6 and may be considered thesecondary winding of a transformer havlng as a primary winding the inductance of circuit l6. The inductance i8 is connected to ground at about its electrical center and thence to the cathodes of two electron discharge systems 60 and 60. These systems may be in individual envelopes or in a single envelope as shown. The ends of the inductance of circuit I8 are coupled by lines L and Ll through condensers Bc and Bc to the control grids 'Il and 'I3 respectively of the electron discharge systems 60 and 60. The grid ends of the lines L and L! are coupled to ground by impedances 61 and 69 and radio frequency voltages El and E2 appearing across these impedances are fed differentially to the grids 1I and 'i3 of the electron tube systems E and 60.

The cathodes of the tube systems B0 and 60 are maintained above ground radio frequency potential by an impedance arrangement 64, 64 and the output of tuned circuit 30 of the stage Z is supplied by a phasing condenser 3| and a line L2 to a point ,on the impedances 64, B4 to feed the radio frequency current from the circuit 30 through bypass condenser 65 in phase to both cathodes of the discharge systems S0 and S0. There is a 90 phase change of the voltage fed through the condenser 3i over resistance 64 to the Acathodes of the discharge systems 60 and 60. This radio frequency voltage is designated as E3 herein. Direct current bias circuits for the control grids 'H and 73 of tube systems 60 and 60 are completed by means of a potentiometer resistance 66, a point on which is connected through balancing resistances to the grids'll and 13 of the tube systems 6D and 60. The resistance 66 serves also as a means for applying the 60 cycle alternating current from a powersupply source, not shown, cophasally to the grids Hand 13. The 60 cycle current applied between one end of resistancey 66 and ground may be derived from the same source used as filament heatingA current. The anodes 'l5 and l5 of the electron discharge systems 60 and 60 are supplied by direct current potential from a lead on the primary winding ofv a 60 cycle transformer 10. As long as the electron discharge systems 60 and 60 are balanced the alternating current bucks out in the primary windings of transformer 10, or is at least ineffective to materially excite the secondary winding thereof. The phase displacement between radio frequency voltages E3 and El and E3 and E2 changes the bias of one or the other of the grids 'il or i3 of the discharge systems or 6B to let the said one tube amplify the 60 cycle alternating current more than the other does, and strike one or the other of the tubes 'M and '54', depending on which of the systems 6G or Sil' is excited by the radio frequency current of advanced phase. This in turn depends on the phase relation of the radio frequency in the tuned circuit it and in circuit 30 to be tuned.

The transformer 'l0 has its secondary winding coupled in pushpull relation to the control grids 11 and H of a pair of gaseous tubes 'icl and 7d of the Thyratron type. These tubes have their anodes 19 and 'i9' coupled in pushpull relation by the secondary windings 'I6' and 'i8' of two transformers 16 and '18, the primary windings i6 and 78" of which 'are in series with two motor windings 80 and 82 respectively. The primary winding of the transformer .'6 and the motor winding Bil are in series with an alternating current supply source. The primary winding of the transformer 'I8 and the motor winding 82 are similarly in series across an alternating current supply source. YThis supply source may be the same source supplying current to the resistance 66 and itis to be assumed that the currents supplied to windings 8i! and 82 and 66 are in synchronism. In the embodiment being described the alternating current supplied to these windings is of 60 cycles and 110 volts, while the alternating current supplied across the resistance @t is of 60 cycles and 6 volts. This alternating current is induced in the windings 'i6' and 'i8' to set up therein voltages which' are across the anode to cathode impedances of the tube systems 'id and 14. If the two gas tube systems lll and lll are of high impedance (thyratron with negative or low positive voltage on the grid) the secondaries of the transformers 16 and 'i8 are unloaded (open circuited) and no current flowsin the primary windings of transformers 18 and 'i8 so the motor cannot turn. If the tubes are of low impedance the transformersecondaries are loaded, so current ows in the primary windings and motor windings. However, since the current in one Winding tends to turn the rotor in one direction while the current in the other winding tends to turn the rotor in the other direction, the motor does not turn. In practice the tubes 'Id and 'Hi' are alternatively conductive or both non-conductive.

The motor rotor is geared or linked (see dotted line) to tunablereactances L4 and C4 in circuit 30 and to the phasing condenser 3 l.

The electron discharge devices 60 and 6B comprise a phase detector which compares the phase of the voltage in tank circuit 30 with the phase of the voltage in the tank circuit IB. If we give the voltage across the tank circuit I6 a rst phase then by proper coupling of the winding I6 to winding I8 the voltage induced in winding is may be of said first phase and this voltage is fed by linesL and Ll differentially to the grids 'H and 13 of tube systems Ei and 60.

These voltages are designated El and E2 an are shown vectorially in Figs. 2 and 3 and represent the voltages applied respectively between the grid 'H and ground, and between the grid 'I3 amaai and ground;` At; the.- Sametime ai voltage, is supplied. in parallelby line L2 to-.thetcathodesaof the--tubes' andv 6.0.lv from; theA circuit 3i); The voltage in, 30. isf off a; phase differing.; from.` the phase of saidl firstlvoltage in the.- circuit' |51- by 1809-1-90.o or. 270?"and therefore `it ,is Vinfcpiadrature with respectztothevoltageein circuit: Id; i.ze., .said rsttvoltaget. Assume-thatl theradic frequency voltage intank circuit'.r IB'iis again of* said first phase. ThisV voltage is reversed inf phase, i. e;, displaced iniphase'` 1809i by actionI ofi tube T2. and shifted l in phase 90?" by Lthe phase shifter network including condenserfSl: and resistancesV 54 andil aty the other endofline T452.r The phase of voltage E3is alsoshown vectoriallyin Figs: Z-and 3i The phasingnetwork (3I, 64, 64') advances the phase ofthelvolt'agefES about-90? so that the voltages fed from line L2?. are90 displacedwith respect tothe voltagesffedfromlines Ll and-L2"w-hen the circuit 30 is-proper-ly tuned', thatis, at resonance. Toy insure` thatA this desired 90 displacement in phasebet'ween4` voltages El and' EBT and between E2-andE3 is maintained onthe electrodes of tubes Se and 60V', the-lines L, Ll and L2- are madeof like electricallength; Therefore, when the stages I6 and-30iare tuned tothe-same frequency there willbe a substantially exactI phasel quadrature betweenthe voltages applied-tothe grids and-cathodes-of the-'respective discharge tubes Sand B'Sf. Moreover, since they are properly tunedthe voltage E3' appliedtothecathodes-will-belargerthan the voltages-EI" and E2= whichare) equal. The radio frequency resultants represented by Rl' and R2 applied; to the; tube systems 6!) and 60' are equalA so thatA theireffect'sand the amplified 60 cycle alternating currents; Cancel, in the anode circuits. The 60 cycle current being fed cophasallyxisiba-lanced in .the primary: winding of pushpull transformer 'l0 andlcancelsout or'isat least ineiTectiveto-.strike the tube stages 'I4 and 14. This stage, including tubes 'Hand 14', is now ineffective to switch the current to one or the other 0f 'windings Strand-82, of the motor-andthe same will remain atrestl Ain i the positionI at' vwhich the circuit `30 isproperly tuned;

Now assume-that-the circuit `3!! is improperly tuned in-onedirecticn-or theother. The` phase quadrature'- relation. between radio frequency voltages -E-t and E2- and E31 is no longer present. Moreover, the voltage-E3willnow be smaller than it is whenv the Icircuit- 30is properly tunedand'the resultant radiofrequency voltages Rl andRZjon the grids-'H-and-'IS-of the tubes` 60 and 5D? are -no longerfequaland-one-of these tubes is more eiiective as an'amplifierthantheother, dependingon whether the voltage E3 leads or lags the voltage El and/or E2. The grid of said one tube section is more positive than the grid of the other and arnplies the 60 cycle current more than the other tube and one or the other grids l1 or 11 of the tubes i4 or 14' is excited by the amplified alterhating current power. The anodes of these tubes are also subjected to alternating current power of the same frequency, and on the positive cycles of the anode and grid alternating current the said l one tube discharges to, in effect, lower the anode to cathode impedance of this tube (is shorted) and a current flows through that winding of the motor coupled to this one tube during a half cycle of the alternating current applied to its grid. This causes the motor to turn in one direction and the direction of turning is related to the direction of shift of the voltage E3 so as to tune circuit 30 in the proper direction to set up the proper phase relation between the radio frequency voltages in yand amotor rotor associatedl with 1 circuits-.3,0 and; I6;` The next Vpositive ,cycleaofthe a1ternating fcurrent also ,has asimilar effect but due to thezinertianfzthe motor. thejeffect is integrated so that the motor, turnsA slowlyvbutI continuously in thel proper direction tolretune the circuitV ftoresonance at the frequency of the current `irr circuit I S.

Theg linesconnecting the winding i8. and the circuitir 30f to the tubesystems 6.0 vand 60 may be of, any length but must be of equal' electrical length tohave similar eiects on the voltages El, E21and1E3 and'not-upsetzthe desired phase-relationA discussed in detail above. The frequency range' involved, i. e., the tuningl range, may be considerablainzwhich casev aphase shifting networkhaving xed values wouldY not supply a voltage Efdisplacedl in phase from the voltagesl El,r and E2. In'v order to insure a proper quadrature vrelation between voltage E3 and-voltages Eliand-E'Zwegmake the reactance 3| of the phase shifting network adjustable and control itsfvalue by the motor simultaneously with controlof the tuning of the circuit Thus, the desired'quadraturerelation between the voltage E3; andthe voltages El' and E2, necessary at the phase detector tubes and. 60 when the system 1s properly tuned, is maintained throughout the tuner range.

Whatisv claimed is:

l. In apparatus forY controlling direction of rotationofa motor., a pair orelectron-r discharge systemszeach having a pluraiityfof electrodes including outputV electrodes, connections for applyingfhigh frequency voltages of' a firstl phase to corresponding electrodes ofsaid'systems, connecions for applying high. frequency voltages displaced inphase about 90'v/ith respect to saidlfirst Avoltages;tocorresponding electrodes said sysi tems, connectionsy for applying.alternatingcurrentsL from' asource of alternating curl entl cophasally tolcorrespondinfT electrodes-of 'said systems, aA pairv of gaseousdischarge deviceshaving inpuirandioutput electrodes, circuits coupling the output` electrodes` off said systemsv in` push pull `relation to the input electrodesoi' said device amotor having twowwindings, means connecting one winding inseries-vfith animpedance across saidisource oialternating current, said beingconnected effectively inl-shunt to the output electrodes. ofV oneI device, means connectingthe other winding in series with an im edance across said source oiA alternating current, said lastnamedA impedancebeing`r connected eiiectively in shunt tothe output electrodes ofthe other device, said motor windings.

2. A phase comparison and motor control cir- .cuit comprising a pair of electron discharge devices each having input and output electrodes, two coaxial lines for applying alternating currents of a first phase in pushpull relation to corresponding electrodes of said devices, a third coaxial line of an electrical length equal to the length of said first lines for applying alternating currents displaced in phase by 90 with respect to said iirst currents cophasally to corresponding electrodes of said devices, connections for applying other alternating current cophasally to corresponding electrodes of said devices, a motor having two windings, two gaseous discharge tubes the conductivities of which are controlled by the outputs of said irst mentioned devices respectively, and separate circuits, each including an alternating current source of the same frequency as said other alternating current and a series impedance, effectively connecting, by means of such impedances, each of the motor windings with the impedance of a different one of said gaseous discharge devices.

3. In signalling apparatus, a first circuit whereinwave energy is developed, a second circuit coupled to said first circuit and tuned substantially to resonance at the frequency of said Wave energy, a pair of electron discharge devices each having input and output electrodes, connections from said first circuit to electrodes of said devices for applying wave energy of a rst phase from said rst circuit antiphasally to the input electrodes of said devices, connections from said second circuit to said input electrodes for applying wave energy from said second circuit cophasally to the input electrodes of said devices, a variable phase shifter in said last named connections for shifting the phase of the applied wave energy about 90, and tuning control means operated by currents in said devices for tuning said second circuit and the reactance of said phase shifter in accordance with changes in the phase relation, of the currents fed from said first and second circuits to the electrodes of said devices, from a 90 phase relation therebetween.

4. In circuit tuning apparatus, a first circuit wherein wave energy is developed, a second ciry cuit which is tunable coupled to said first circuit and tuned substantially to resonance at the frequency of said wave energy, and means for detecting variations of the relative phases of the Wave energies in the two circuits comprising a pair of electron discharge devices each having input and output electrodes, connections from said first circuit to the input electrodes of said devices for applying wave energy of a rst phase from said first circuit antiphasally to the input electrodes of said devices, connections from said second circuit to said input electrodes of said devices for applying wave energy from said second circuit cophasally to the input electrodes of said devices, a variable phase shifter in one of said connections for relatively shifting the phases of the wave energy applied to the input electrodes from the respective circuits about 90, the arrangement as recited providing similar resultant biases on the input electrodes of the two devices when the wave energies in the two circuits are of about the same phase, and dissimilar resultant biases on said input electrodes when relative displacement of the phases of the energies takes place, connections for applying alternating curlrent to be used for tuning purposes cophasally to the input electrodes of said devices, and tuning control means coupled to the output electrodes of said ldevices and operated by said alternating current amplified in said devices for tuning said second circuit depending on which of said devices has the least negative resultant bias on its input electrodes, said tuning control means also operating to vary the reactance of said phase shifter.

5. In electrical apparatus, a first circuit wherein alternating current of a rst phase flows, a second circuit wherein alternating current of substantially the same frequency as said first alternating current ows, and means for comparing the phases of said alternating currents and detecting dierences in phase of the currents comprising a pair of electron discharge devices each having an anode, a cathode and a control electrode, two coaxial electrical transmission lines coupling said rst circuit to the control electrodes of said electron discharge devices for applying alternating current of said iirst phase from said rst circuit in push pull relation to the control electrodes of said devices, a third coaxial line coupling said second circuit to the cathodes of said devices for applying alternating current of the said same frequency cophasally to the cathodes of said devices, a phase shifter in the couplings between one of said circuits and the electrodes of said devices for displacing the phase of the alternating current fed to said electrodes from said one circuit about connections for applying other alternating current cophasally to the control electrodes of said devices, and an output circuit coupled to the anode of the two devices.

JOSEPH G. BEARD. ROBERT F. DRESSLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,041,855 Ohl May 26, 1936 2,080,250 Bedford May 11, 1937 2,109,222 Ryder Feb. 22, 1938 2,126,910 Moseley Aug. 16, 1938 2,164,728 Wey July 4, 1939 2,250,532 Hansell July29, 1941 2,266,052 Lindner Dec. 16, 1941 2,288,339 Willis June 30, 1942 2,304,377 Roberts Dec'. 8, 1942 2,340,432 Schock Feb. 1, 1944 2,374,265 Baker et al Apr. 24, 1945 2,402,210 Ryder et al June 18, 1946 2,423,228 Conklin July 1, 1947 

